Horse-riding simulation device

ABSTRACT

A horse-riding simulation device contains a seat, a stand, a support member, a power source, a front-back driving member, and a left-right driving member. The device mainly uses belts as the transmission mechanism. Through a belt, a motor of the power source drives an axle of the front-back driving member to spin. The axle in turn drives another axle of the left-right driving member to spin via another belt. The second axle has an eccentric crank shaft connecting to a place of the stand via a shaft. When the crank shaft is spun, the seat pin-joined to the stand is swung to the left and to the right periodically by the shaft.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to exercise equipments, and more particularly to a horse-riding simulation device providing simultaneously front-back and left-right movements.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Exercising equipments simulating horse-back riding have been very popular recently and quite a few teachings have already been disclosed such as the Japan Publication Nos. 2004-3444684, 2005-296677, and R.O.C (Taiwan) Patent Nos. I270393, I268794, I270394, I268793, I256901, I232116, I232116, M284401, and M304260.

These teachings generally involve a saddle-like seat and the seat is put into front-back and left-right movements by a motor via a number of gears and levers. However, using gears as the transmission mechanism has a number of disadvantages: (1) gears are more difficult to manufacture and assemble, thereby contributing to a higher production cost; (2) the engagement between gears is more prone to noises; and (3) transmission through gears is more susceptible to malfunction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a novel horse-riding simulation, device is provided herein, which contains a seat, a stand, a support member, a power source, a front-back driving member, and a left-right driving member.

The device mainly uses belts as the transmission mechanism. Through a belt, a motor of the power source drives an axle of the front-back driving member to spin. The axle in turn drives another axle of the left-right driving member to spin via another belt. The second axle has an eccentric crank shaft connecting to a place of the stand via a shaft. When the crank shaft is spun, the seat pin-joined to the stand is swung to the led and to the tight periodically.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the inversion itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view snowing a horse-riding simulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective exploded view showing the various components of the horse-riding simulation device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing the horse-riding simulation device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the horse-riding simulation device of FIG. 1 in front-back movement.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are schematic back views showing the horse-riding simulation device of FIG. 1 in a cycle of left-right movement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in anyway. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, an embodiment of the present invention contains a seat 70, a support member 50, a front-back driving member 40, a power source 30, a left-right driving member 60, a support structure 20, and a stand 10.

The seat 70 has the shape of a saddle. In the following, direction and position are referenced relative to a person sitting astride the seat 70. A control panel 71 is positioned in the front end of the seat 70 for controlling and adjusting the operation of the device.

The seat 70 is fixedly supported from beneath by a support member 50 having two U-shaped handles 51 aligned in parallel along the front-back direction. One of the bundles 51 has a slot opening 52 and a circular opening 53 in the bottom section.

The front-back driving member 40 contains a first driving wheel 41, a first transmission belt 42, a first transmission wheel 43, a first axle 44, and a first crank shah 441. Via tire first transmission belt 42, the first driving wheel 41 spins the first transmission wheel 43 whose center is fun through by an end of the first axle 44. The first crank shaft 441 whose one end is axially joined to the other end of the first axle 44 is thereby driven to spin as well. The other end of the first crank shaft 441 is extended into the slot opening 52 of the handle 51. The first axle 44 also was axially through a disc 81 having a number of notches 42 along the rim.

The front-back driving member 40 further contains a second driving wheel 45, a second transmission belt 46, a second transmission wheel 47, a second axle 48, and a second crank shaft 481. Via the second transmission belt 46, the second driving wheel 45 spins she second transmission wheel 47 whose center is attached to an end of the second axle 48. The second crank shall 481 whose one end is axially joined to the other end of the second axle 48 is thereby driven to spin as well. The other end of the second crank shaft 481 is extended into the circular opening 53 of the handle 51. The second axle 48 also runs axially through a third driving wheel 482 between the second transmission wheel 47 and the second crank shaft 481.

The power source 30 contains a first motor 31 and a second motor 32 which drives die first driving wheel 41 and the second driving wheel 45, respectively.

The left-right driving member 60 contains a third transmission belt 61, a third transmission wheel 63, a third axle 62, and an eccentric third crank shaft 64. Via tire third transmission belt 61, the third driving wheel 482 on the second axle 48 spins the third transmission wheel 63 whose center is attached to an end of the third axle 62. The third crank shaft 64 whose one end is axially joined to the other end of the third axle 62 is thereby driven to spin as well.

The stand 10 contains a ground plate 11 and a support plate 12 raised above the ground plate 11 by a frame structure mainly containing a number of vertical rods 111. Beneath the supporting plate 12, there are two opposing sockets 14 aligned in the front-back direction in the middle of the support plate 12. Correspondingly, there are two opposing pins 13, also aligned in the front-back direction, in the middle on top of the frame structure. As such, the support plate 12 is pin-joined to tire frame structure, and is thereby capable of pivotally left-right swing.

The support member 50 and most of the parts of the front-back driving member 40 end the left-right driving member 60 are located above the support plate 12. The axles of the driving members 40 and 60 are supported by the support structure 20, which contains two rails 21 aligned in parallel along the front-back direction and sealed by two covers 22, respectively. The power source 30 is located beneath the support plate 12.

On top of the support plate 12, there are also a lamp (not shown) and a sensor element 80 (such as a photo diode) located at the two sides of the disc 81, respectively. Whenever the disc 81 is spun and a notch 82 passing between the lamp and the sensor element 80, the sensor clement 80 is activated to send a signal to the coated panel 71. Using the signals from the sensor element 80, the control panel 71 is able to adjust the operations of the motors and other components.

The support plate 12 also has an opening 121 through which a shaft 65 has a first end 651 in which a bearing 652 is positioned connected to the third crank shaft 64 and the other end 653 pin-joined to a seat 112 of the frame structure.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second motors 31 and 32 drive the front-back driving member 40 to put the seat 70 into periodical front and back movements.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, when the second axle 48 is spun, the third crank shad 64 of the left-right driving member 60 is driven to spin as well. As such and due to the pivotal joint between the support plate 12 and the frame structure, the shaft 65 swings the seat 70 periodically to the left and to the right. Whenever the third axle 62 makes a full turn, the seat 70 will be swung to the left and to the right once. If the third driving wheel 482 of the second axle 48 and third transmission wheel 63 is 1:2 in terms of their diameters. Therefore, when the third driving wheel 482 makes two full turns, the third transmission wheel 62 makes a full turn. In other words, when the seat 70 is moved back and front once, the seal 70 is swung to a side once; and, when the seat 70 is moved back and front a second time, the seat 70 is swung to the other side once. The seat 70 therefore provides both front end back movement and left and right swing simultaneously.

The first, second, and third transmission belts 42, 47, and 61 are leather belts or belts made of a flexible material.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed our in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will he understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A horse-riding simulation device comprising: a stand having at least a support plate; a seat pivotally joined to said stand having the shape of a saddle for a user to sit astride; a support member fixed to said support plate having at least a U-shaped handle along the front-back direction relative to said user, said handle supporting said seat from therebeneath; a power source fixed to said support plate having at least a motor; a front-back driving member fixed to said support plate having at least a first axle running trough a first transmission wheel, and a first driving wheel engaged by said motor and connected to said first transmission wheel by a first transmission belt, said first axle, when spun, engaging said handle into periodical front-back movements; and a left-right driving member fixed to said support plate having at least a third axle engaged by said first axle via a third transmission belt, and a eccentric third crank shaft having a first end connected to said third axle and a second end connected to a first end of a shaft, a second end of said shaft pivotally joined to said stand; said third crank shaft, when spun, engaging said shaft to swing said support plate and thereby said seat to the left and to the right periodically.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said support plate has two opposing sockets aligned in the front-back direction in the middle therebeneath; said stand has two opposing pins aligned in the front-back direction in the middle; and said pins are pivotally joined to said sockets, respectively.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said shaft has a bearing for connection to said second end of said third crank shaft.
 4. The device according claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and third transmission belts is a leather belt.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first and third transmission belts are made of a flexible material.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said third transmission belt runs around a third driving wheel of said first axle and a third transmission wheel of said third axle. 